25 Oct, 2023
(edited)Edited by the_artiquarian on 2023-10-25 11:28:41 PM UTC
Edited by the_artiquarian on 2023-11-14 12:10:43 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2023-12-22 5:40:33 AM UTC
Edited by Trotter on 2023-12-22 5:43:02 AM UTC
2023-10-25 6:49:45 PM UTC
A quick question for fellow collectors! Are you guys aware of "The Hobbit Ring" that was commissioned by Unwin as part of the promotion for the 50th anniversary publication of The Hobbit? 22 kt. gold ring was made by Garrard to be given as a prize offered by Unwin to the bookseller who produced the "best window display" to commemorate the anniversary in 1987.
25 Oct, 2023
2023-10-25 11:29:16 PM UTC
25 Oct, 2023
2023-10-25 11:35:47 PM UTC
Well, that's certainly interesting. Any idea where this ring currently is?
26 Oct, 2023
2023-10-26 2:59:26 AM UTC
I haven’t run across anything mentioning this before. Perhaps someone who has been through the A&U archives might have seen something?
2 Nov, 2023
2023-11-2 4:35:21 PM UTC
I contacted the Harper Collins Archive in Glasgow about this, and they shared the following:
"I can confirm that there was a competition in 1987 with a ring from Garrard as the prize. 1st prize went to The Friar Street Bookshop in Reading; 2nd prize to Sherratt & Hughes in Eldon Square Shopping Centre, Newcastle and 3rd prize to Gothic Image in Glastonbury. The ring was presented at a special dinner in London and the runners up received Tolkien books.
This information was taken from a letter sent by Unwin Hyman to Publishing News, which was also copied to The Bookseller."
7 Nov, 2023
2023-11-7 7:27:32 PM UTC
8 Nov, 2023
2023-11-8 1:50:45 AM UTC
Not sure who’s collection they bought out or where they got that but if their websites book listings are any indication they will be selling that ring for 2x it’s actual value.
21 Dec, 2023
2023-12-21 10:54:41 PM UTC
22 Dec, 2023
2023-12-22 8:17:39 AM UTC
His collection appears to be worth in the millions. What a fella.
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